Johnson: No One's Excused From Special Teams

DOLPHINS

May 1, 1996|By JASON COLE Staff Writer

DAVIE - — Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson has let all of his players know where he stands on special teams. Front and center.

He reiterated that position Tuesday as the Dolphins continued their four-day quarterback school. In essence, Johnson has made it clear that unless you are a quarterback, be ready to throw your body into the special teams fray.

"As far as activating players on Sunday, a lot of time I may activate a position player that's better on [special) teams than somebody else at his position. ...," Johnson said.

In other words, the No. 3 receiver won't be afforded the luxury of sitting out special teams. That happened last season with backup Gary Clark, who hadn't played special teams in years and wasn't about to in his 11th season. Other players, such as top backup running back Terry Kirby, weren't asked to play special teams.

"We won't have those players," Johnson said.

"Sometimes a guy would become a starter and the next time I would see him was at the banquet," special teams coach Mike Westhoff said.

"Whatever they want you to do, that's what you have to do," Kirby said.

While some players weren't thrilled, starting wide receiver O.J. McDuffie was looking forward to making his first tackle since playing free safety in high school.

"I'm a hitter," McDuffie said. "I was born to play on defense. I'm playing out of position."

Westhoff might still not get a player such as McDuffie or Kirby during a game, but he'll at least get to work with him in practice. In the past, players such as Kirby and Clark would work on offensive drills during practice rather than spend time practicing kickoff returns.

"I understood that, there was a balance we had," Westhoff said. "Those guys would be working on blitz breakoffs and stuff like that. That was considered more important. Jimmy sees special teams as more important, so now everybody is going to be in there working on it."

The result will be that special teams practice will be stronger. Instead of using offensive tackle Richmond Webb to run around emulating the opposition, Westhoff will have somebody such as Kirby, Keith Byars or O.J. McDuffie.

"If everybody is involved, that gives us a better picture and idea about what they do ... A better look in practice helps you overall," West-hoff said.

It also may have a small effect on morale. Special teams aren't viewed highly by many players. It's more like drudgery. Some players go so far as to intentionally play poorly on special teams just to get out of it.

That's not to say that Clark wanted off, but it didn't help a team that already had teetering morale.

Over the weekend, the team ran coverage drills on punts. Defensive linemen such as Tim Bowens and Daryl Gardener had to chase the likes of Randal Hill all over the field. "Everybody plays on special team, except the quarterbacks," Johnson said. "And even the quarterbacks will be involved in special teams meetings on Monday and Saturday."

Heller has surgery

Offensive tackle Ron Heller, who will be 34 in August, had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder to clean up some loose bodies that were causing pain. The shoulder had been bothering him for more than a year, he said. Heller is still recovering from surgery on both knees last season. Depending on how the knees respond by training camp, Heller is contemplating retirement. "Jimmy just said let's watch what happens and then evaluate later on," said Heller, who started the first seven games last season.